Sunder Spell


Advice


So in our campaign, my paladin (1) / magus (7) has made it his mission in life to destroy a set of evil enchanted armors - something he feels uniquely qualified for. Now he's a LONG way from being able to sunder plate mail... so I came up with this, and the GM and I are trying to figure out if it is OP or not.

It has high potential damage (and can be doubled on a crit since it is a touch spell), but I think its not so far off from an equivalent level fighter. Maybe make it 1d4? Maybe have the hardness always apply?

Let me know your thoughts.

Wizard’s Sunder (working title)
School transmutation; Level sorcerer/wizard/magus 3
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a twig)
Range Touch
Target One Medium or smaller object
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Fortitude Spell Resistance yes
You can attempt to break or at least damage any one large or smaller object within range. The damage is 1d6 / caster level, max 10d6. If the saving throw is made, the hardness of the material applies. If the saving throw is not made, the spell bypasses hardness. The saving throw can be made by either the item, or the master of that item, whichever bonus is higher.


Pathfinder Maps Subscriber

Suggest moving this to the Advice or Homebrew section. I don't see a rules question about the spell research rules in here.


Lannister2112 wrote:

So in our campaign, my paladin (1) / magus (7) has made it his mission in life to destroy a set of evil enchanted armors - something he feels uniquely qualified for. Now he's a LONG way from being able to sunder plate mail... so I came up with this, and the GM and I are trying to figure out if it is OP or not.

It has high potential damage (and can be doubled on a crit since it is a touch spell), but I think its not so far off from an equivalent level fighter. Maybe make it 1d4? Maybe have the hardness always apply?

Let me know your thoughts.

Wizard’s Sunder (working title)
School transmutation; Level sorcerer/wizard/magus 3
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a twig)
Range Touch
Target One Medium or smaller object
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Fortitude Spell Resistance yes
You can attempt to break or at least damage any one large or smaller object within range. The damage is 1d6 / caster level, max 10d6. If the saving throw is made, the hardness of the material applies. If the saving throw is not made, the spell bypasses hardness. The saving throw can be made by either the item, or the master of that item, whichever bonus is higher.

Target line says Medium object, but text says large.

Saving throw line should be Fortitude (partial)
The line about who makes the save is redundant - that is how all objects determine their saving throws.
Spells generally don't require a touch and a saving throw. Generally, it is one or the other (but there are exceptions)

As for the effects, the 2nd level spell shatter will completely destroy a single object up to 10 pounds/level. It does only work on non-magic items, but a simple dispel magic will make the targeted magic item non-magical for a few rounds. Seems odd that the higher level spell is less effective at destroying things than the lower level one.


Moving this discussion... as soon as I figure out how.


Lannister2112 wrote:
Moving this discussion... as soon as I figure out how.

On the right side of a post, upper right corner. The "Flag" button. For the reason, choose wrong forum. That will notify the moderators, who can move the thread.

But it has already been moved. It is now in the Advice section.

Lantern Lodge Customer Service Manager

Moved to advice forum.


Pathfinder Maps Subscriber

Here => Break Object is someone else's take on a spell to damage objects. You might find it interesting.


Why are you a long way from being able to sunder plate mail? Once it's in your possession you can pretty much just keep stabbing at it until it's destroyed.

It's also worth noting that I don't believe items can't be critically hit.

Quote:

Immunities

Objects are immune to nonlethal damage and to critical hits.

It's also worth noting that 10d6 (at level 10) is an average of 35 damage.

A power attacking 2-handed weapon wielding character can probably crank out about 24 points of damage just from strength + power attack + weapon damage and I'm not trying hard. So it should be pretty easy to destroy some armor once it's in your possession. Maybe you can't do it specifically, but someone in your party probably can.


Where's AM BARBARIAN to exclaim the futility of castys trying to muscle in on his Spell Sundering turf?


It should be mentioned that said Hellknight armor appears to be animated/possessed in some form or another. He's not just striking some armor in his possession.


That sounds like it should be a creature with HP, and not an "object". If it's able to move of it's own volition and has some sort of intelligence it's a creature, not an object.

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